Building construction



Nov. 8, 1966 R. P. HQWELL BUILDING CONSTRUCTION 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed July 19, 1963 INVENTOR.

H IS ATTORNEYS Nov. 8, 1966 Filed July 19, 1963 R. P. HOWELL BUILDING CONSTRUCTION :5 Sheets-Sheet 5 FIG-46 92 INVENTOR. RAYMOND P. HOWELL BY $64M HIS ATTORNEYS United States Patent 3,283,693 BUILDING CONSTRUCTIQN Raymond P. Howell, Richmond, Va, assignor to Reynolds Metals Company, Richmond, Va., a corporation of Delaware Filed July 19, 1963, Ser. No. 296,237 20 Claims. (Cl. 98-31) This invention is directed to a novel building constnuction.

The building is useful for any purpose, and 1s particularly useful as a vacation cottage.

It is designed to provide an esthetically balanced construction which may be easily constructed or erected in almost any terrain condition, and which is not likely to be damaged by the severe environments which prevail at the usual vacation spots.

The materials used in the construction of the building are of such a nature that they may be transported w th relative ease to the relatively inaccessible locations which are usually selected by many vacationers.

The parts may be assembled without difficult cuttlng or sawing operations. They also may be erected without complicated scaffolds.

The framework, outer metal strips or panels, and inner wall panels are easily assembled on the main support therefor.

The components combine to provide a convention arr flow means which effectively maintains the interior of the building cool in the summer time.

The convection air flow means may be changed to an insulating means for winter use.

A relatively small part of the roof structure may be used in combination with a forced air means for discharging upper heated air into the outside atmosphere during the summer, and to circulate such upper heated air nto the lower living compartment in the winter time, in a simple and effective manner.

The lower floor construction may be supported on an open column foundation which prevents accumulation of sand, snow, or the like under or around the building.

Other advantages are apparent from this description, the appended claimed subject matter, and/ or the accompanying drawings in which:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of a completed building or cottage, with the front door steps omitted.

FIGURE 2 is a view similar to FIGURE 1, but showing only the frame work of the building.

FIGURE 3 is an enlarged view of a portion of the frame ridge construction.

FIGURE 4 is a partial perspective view of the frame construction adjacent the intermediate purlin reinforcing construction.

FIGURE 5 is an enlarged perspective view of a portion of the roof construction during the erection of the outer metal sheet cover.

FIGURE 6 is a view similar to a portion of FIGURE 1, but showing the end frame construction before the application of the outer panels and door and window construction.

FIGURE 7 is a view in perspective showing the application of the first metal strip to the roof frame construction.

FIGURE 8 is a perspective view of a portion of the under side of FIGURE 7, and showing the addition of a portion of the inner wall construction.

FIGURE 9 is a horizontal cross section substantially along the line '9-9 of FIGURE 8.

FIGURE 10 is a top plan view of FIGURE 9, with a portion of the outer metal strip construction removed.

FIGURE 11 is an enlargement of a portion of FIG- URE 9.

FIGURE 12 is a view somewhat similar to FIGURE 7, but showing the application of the rid e cap and the use of an opening sealing strip for shutting off the convection air currents.

FIGURE 13 is a broken cross section, somewhat enlarged, taken along the transverse plane 13-13 of FIG- URES 1 and 14.

FIGURE 14 is an enlarged cross section along the line 14-14 of FIGURE 13.

FIGURE 15 is a horizontal across section along the line 15-15 of FIGURE 14.

FIGURE 16 is a horizontal cross section along the line 16-16 of FIGURE 14.

FIGURE 17 is a diagrammatic vertical cross section of a form of eave construction which may be used with the sealing strip construction of FIGURE 18.

FIGURE 18 is an enlarged view showing a portion of a sealing strip suitable for use with the cave construction of FIGURE 17.

Certain words are used in this application which describe direction, relative position, etc. Such words are used for the sake of brevity and clearness.

They describe directions, relative positions, etc., as shown in the drawings. However, it is to be understood that the actual devices may have different directions and relative positions and still come within the scope of the invention. Examples of such words are: vertical, horizontal, upper, lower, rightwand, leftward, etc.

A building structure is provided by this invention to make available a structure of any type desired but which is particularly amenable for use as a vacation cottage and the like.

The parts which are used for such a cottage are relatively easily transported to remote places where they are also easily erected to provide an attractive and comfortable cottage of this character. The design of the cottage and the materials used, combine to attain a very desirable and attractive dwelling.

According to this invention, a main supporting structure 20 is erected to provide substantially parallel main side support means or side plates 22. These may be supported as elsewhere described. A plurality of upwardly slantingly converging purlins 24, FIGURE 2, are erected with their lower ends 26 secured to said main supporting structure 20 adjacent the main side support means or side plates 22. The upper ends 28 of the purlins are connected to form a horizontal ridge-like structure 30, which may include a ridge pole, if desired.

A plurality of horizontal inner wall supporting strips 32 may be secured to the purlins 24. The strips 32 may be secured to the inner or lower sides of the purlins 24.

In a typical structure, as illustrated, suitable for a vacation cottage, or the like, the purlins 24 and strips 32 may be made of 2 X 2 inch, or similar lumber with the upper sides 34 of the purlins having chamfers at 36, FIGURE 11.

A plurality of vertically corrugated sheets 38, preferably made of aluminum material, may be provided with vertically slanting and outwardly directed ridges 40, FIGURES 9 and 10, placed over the upper parts or sides 34 of the purlins 24. (In FIGURES 9 and 10, and elsewhere, suflixes A, B, C, etc., are used to designate specific ones of a plurality of members, such as 24A, 24B, 24C, etc.)

The sheets 38 may be provided with vertically slanting and outwardly directed valleys 42 which may be secured to the inner wall supporting strips 32 by suitable fasteners 44 in a water tight manner. When the sheets 38 are made of aluminous metal, the fasteners 44 may be aluminous hexagonal head screw fasteners, such as No. 14, with a A type neoprene or similar material washer or the like, of well known construction, under the hexagonal head.

Inner wall sheets 46, such as of insulating wallboard, may be secured to the inner wall supporting strips 32.

A modular system of construction is used to avoid cutting and waste material as much as possible. To this end the purlins 24 are spaced apart so that three are three purlins, for example, to each corrugated sheet 38. For the specific corrugated sheets ilustrated, the two edge purlins 24A and 24B, FIGURES 9 and 10, may be placed 42 and /3 inches center to center with an intermediate purlin 24C half way between such edge purlins. The horizontal inner wall supporting strips 32 may be placed 16 inches center to center so that 4 X 8 ft. wall boards may be attached with their lengths horizontally disposed, so they may have their edges and intermediate parts nailed to the strips 32, as shown in FIGURE 8. The inner wall sheets 46 alternately may be of 4 x 10 ft. dimension, or any other size desired.

If the modular units are of different sizes than above given, then the spacing can be altered accordingly.

The corrugated sheets 38 may extend homogeneously from the ridge to the eaves of the roof, and may be of suitable width to cover three purlins, if desired. They may be secured to the framework in a very efficient manner, which avoids damage either to the framework or to the corrugated sheets.

To this end, the sheets 38 may be serially placed over the purlins with a first sheet 38A, of FIGURES 7-12, placed first on the purlins at the left hand end of the structure, when considering FIGURES 7, 9, 10 and 12. The first sheet 38A may be placed over a plurality of purlins with vertically slanting edge ridges 40A and 40B at both side edges of said first one of said sheets 38A over the purlins 24A and 24B. Then the lower ends 48A and 48B, FIGURE 7, of the valleys 46A and 46B of said first sheet 48A, which are adjacent the ridges 40A and 40B respectively, may be secured to certain lower inner Wall supporting strips, such as 32A, to secure the valleys adjacent to said purlins 24A and 24B by means of fasteners 44A and 44B.

A ladder means 50 may be constructed specifically for use with this structure. The longitudinal supporting members 52 of such ladder means 50 are spaced correctly to be placed in certain valleys 42. The thickness of the members 52 may be such that the rungs 54 do not injure any of the ridges 40 of the sheets. Conveniently, this ladder means may be made from the same purlin material previously described for purlins 24, and such purlin material is used so the longitudinal members 52 have their chamferred edges directed downwardly. The rungs 54 may be made from either the same purlin material, or from the same inner wall supporting strip material previously described for strips 32.

The ladder means 50 may be placed substantially intermediate the strip edges 40A and 40B, and substantially over the intermediate purlin 24C, so the ladder means rests on a respective strip 38A, 38B, etc., in a manner similar to that illustrated in FIGURE 5.

After the first sheet 38A has been secured with fasteners 44A and 44B adjacent the lower ends, the operator may climb a ladder which has been placed on such strip 38A and then may attach other upper fasteners such as 44C, at as frequent intervals as is required all the way up to the horizontal ridge-like structure 30.

Thereafter, a second corrugated sheet 38B may be placed over the frame structure adjacent the first sheet 38A, FIGURES 9-12 with one edge ridge 40D of sheet 38B over ridge 40B of sheet 38A, FIGURES 9 and 11, and with the other edge ridge, not shown in FIGURES 9 and 11, over another purlin not shown. The sheet 38B may rest on an intermediate purlin, also not shown, substantially in the same manner that sheet 38A rests on its respective purlins.

The second strip 38B may then have the lower ends of its valleys secured to horizontal strips 32 in the same manner previously described in connection with strip 38A. Thereafter, a ladder means may be placed over such second sheet 38B intermediate its respective two edge purlins and using said last-named ladder means to support an operator for securing the upper parts of the valleys of said second sheet 383 in a manner similar to that previously described in connection with strip A.

The remainder of the side of the roof may be completed by serial addition of other strips 38 in a similar manner. The other side of the roof may be similarly covered.

It is to be noted that two operators may lift one corrugated sheet and lay it on the framework and hold it correctly in place, until the two lower fasteners, such as 44A and 44B, FIGURE 7, are secured to the corresponding horizontal supporting strips 32A. This is sufficient to hold the just installed strip on the frame structure, and enables a ladder means 50 to be placed on such strip, and then permits the operator, such as shown at 54, FIGURE 5, to climb the ladder and to apply fasteners 44 at all of the upper desired points all the way up to the ridge 30.

This enables the strips to be placed on the framework without damage either to the framework or to the strip material.

After all the corrugated sheets 38A, 388, etc. on both sides the ridge 30 have been applied to the framework, a ridge covering construction or ridge cap 56 may be secured over the upper ends of the strips 38A, 38B, etc., and over the horizontal ridge-like structure 30. If desired, this ridge covering construction may have an inverted V-shape which may be secured in place by fasteners passing through the ridge construction 56, a suitable number of vertical ridges 40 of strips 38, and into the suitable corresponding purlins, if desired.

Means may be provided for producing convection air currents between the outer weatherproof sheet construction, such as is formed by the sheets 38, and the inner insulating sheet construction, such as is formed by the wallboard sheets 46. To this end, lower outer openings 58 may be provided adjacent the lower part of the outer weatherproof sheet construction which is made of sheets 38. Upper outer opening means 60 may be provided between the lower edges of the ridge construction 56 and the outwardly directed valleys 42.

The lower openings 58, FIGURES 7 and 12, permit convection air to enter from the atmosphere into the space between the sheets 38 and 46. Such convection air can travel upwardly between such sheets, past the sides of the ridge pole 30 and into the downwardly directed spaces between the ridge construction 56 and the valleys 48. Then it can be discharged through openings 60 into the atmosphere.

When the outer weatherproof or metal sheet construction is heated during the summer, the air between the sheets 38 and 46 is likewise heated. Convection air flow is produced between the sheets 38 and 46 and can travel upwardly along the spaces undereneath the ridges 40 and can pass the horizontal members 32, which are spaced from the ridges 40 of such outer sheet construction. The upwardly moving convection air can find its way around the ridge spaces 61, FIGURE 2, along the sides of the ridge pole 30 and into the spaces underneath the V-shaped ridge cap 56 and down the valleys 42 to be discharged through openings 60 into the atmosphere. There is suf ficient force to this convection air flow, to force the heated air downwardly between the ridge construction 56, and the valleys 42 and out the openings 60 into the atmosphere.

This convection current is produced during the summer months, and aids in maintaining the interior of the cabin in a cool condition. I

However, in the winter time, the convection air flow may be stopped and a heating action may be substituted. To this end the lower openings 58 may conveniently be closed by any detachable and attachable means for closing the openings 58.

For example, a closure strip 62, FIGURE 12, may be provided, which may include a rigid or flexible board-like member 64 with flexible closure members 66, and which may be placed in the openings 58. The board 64 may be attached to the side plates 22, FIGURE 12, by any suitable construction, such as fasteners similar to those used at 44, or by any other easily attachable and detachable construction.

Alternatively, a relatively stifi" side strip 68, FIGURE 17, with slanting upper edge 70, may be secured to the side plates 22. The metal strips or sheets 38 may have an overhang at 72 over the strip 68. A flexible sealing sheet or strip 74, FIGURE 18, may then have its continuous body 76 placed in the space 78 between the slanting upper edge 70 of strip 68 and the overhang 72. Then the flexible closure members 80 may be placed in the openings 58 to seal the same during the winter time.

The closure strips 62 and 74, shown in FIGURE 12 and/ or FIGURE 18, may be made of any suitable flexible material, such as a neoprene or an expanded urethene material. Any other material which is sufficiently resistant to weathering and is sufficiently resistant to the passage of air, but at the same time is sufficiently flexible to be insertable in the openings 58 may be used.

In this manner the lower openings 58 may be interchangeably opened for use in the summer, and closed for use in the winter. The convection currents through the space within the roof construction are thus permitted to flow in the summer and prevented from flowing in the winter. The air convection can be maintained when openings 58 and 60 are both opened and can be stopped when openings 58 or 60 are closed. The main air space within the roof construction is thus used as a cooling medium in summer, and as a heat insulating medium in the winter.

Forced air circulating means may be provided for circulating warm or hot forced air from the upper part or attic space of the cottage or building to the lower part or lower living space of such building during the winter. Also, alternatively, means may be provided for forcing warm or hot air from the upper part or attic space of the cottage to the atmospheric air space outside such building during the summer.

The circulation of hot or warm air from the upper part of the building to the lower part of the building may be performed during the winter time when it is advantageous to do so. The forcing of air from the upper part of the building to the outside atmospheric air may be performed in the summer time, when it is desired to force the warmest air from the building outdoors, since the warmest air ordinarily gathers at the uppermost parts of the roof structure.

To this end, forced air passage forming means 82, FIGURES 13-15, may be formed in a relatively small part'of the roof space between the outer metal strips and the inner wall sheets 46. The air passage means 82 may extend from upper inner intake opening means 84 to the lower inner outlet opening means 86. This forced air passage means 82 may be provided on both sides of the roof structure, but description is generally limited to only one of such sides, it being understood that it also may apply to the other side.

Preferably, at one end of the building, such as shown at FIGURES 13, 14 and 15, a relatively small forced air chamber 88 is formed by a portion of the inner wall sheets 46 and by a floor 90 and end wall construction 92 and an inner wall construction 94. The inner wall 94 may have an opening 96 which connects the relatively small forced air chamber 88 with the relatively large upper attic space 98 of the building. A fan 100 and motor 102 force the air from the attic space 98 into the chamber 88 through the opening 96. The forced air propelled by the fan will flow either through the passages 82 down to the lower part of the building in the winter or out through the discharge pipe 108 in to the atmosphere, in the summer, depending on whether the trap door 112 is in its upper full line position of FIGURE 14 or in its lower position over trap door opening 104.

When the trap door 112 is in its upper position, air forced by fan 100 from attic space 98 into chamber 88 must enter opening 104 in floor 90, and from thence goes down through a lower chamber 106 and through openings 84 into passageways 82 and to lower openings 86 to the lower part or lower living space 132 of the buildings. This is the winter operation.

In the summer, the forced air from the attic 98 and chamber 88 may be forced out through the discharge 108 through the opening 110 to the outside atmosphere, merely by moving the trap door to its lower position. When the trap door is lowered, opening 104 is closed and the inner end of pipe 108 is opened. Hence the forced air must be discharged into the atmosphere at 110.

The flow of the forced air from the chamber 88 is thus controlled by the movable trap door 112 that may be pulled to its upward position, as shown in FIGURE 14, by means of a rope construction 114 and pulley 116, or it may be relased by releasing the rope 114, allowing the trap door 112 to move downwardly to close the opening 104.

In order to insure the flow of air to passageways 82, without intermixiug .it with the main body of air in remainder of the roof structure, vertical dividers 118 are placed underneath the valleys 42F and 426, FIGURES 13-15, and these dividers 118 extend all the way down inside the roof structure between the horizontal inner wall supporting strips 32, so that the air flowing down through the passageways 82 cannot leave these passageways 82 and intermix with the air in the other part of the roof structure but is caused to flow only down passageways 82 which are formed underneath the ridges 40F and 40G, FIGURE 15.

Upward flow of air through passageways 82 which may extend upwardly from openings 84 is stopped by closing members 119, FIGURES 13 and 16, which may seal these passageways 82 above the openings 84. The closing members 119 may be attached to the first set of horizontal inner wall supporting strips 32G which may be above the openings 84. Alternatively, such closing members 119 may be wedged between the ridges 40F and 40G and the strip 32G and secured therein, as desired, before the particular inner wall board 46 is secured in place.

The upper purlin reinforcing construction or attic forming platform 120, FIGURES 2 and 4, has upper purlin engaging means 122 substantially parallel the main side support means 22 of the main floor forming platform. The upper purlin reinforcing structure may also have an attic or upper floor forming means 124 supported by the upper purlin reinforcing structure 120. The floor forming means 124 may also include a plurality of joists or rafters 126 which may be supported on longitudinal beams or girders 128, which in turn are supported by pillars or posts 130.

The reinforcing structure prevents the purlins from sagging inwardly under the pressure of outside forces, and also provides an upper attic space 98 and a main floor living space 132, separated by the attic or upper floor 124.

The relatively large main convection air forming means or passages between the outer metal sheets 38 and the inner sheets 46 provide a cooling action or relatively large cooling are during the summer time. However, when sealed at the lower openings 58, such main convection air forming means provides a relatively large insulating air space for both the upper attic space 98 and the lower living space 132.

The relatively small forced air construction tends to remove the warm air in the attic space 98 and discharges it into the atmosphere during the summer time. However, in the winter time, the warmer air in the attic space 98 is transferred by the relatively small forced air circulating means through the upper openings 84, through forced air passageways 82, and out the lower openings 86 into the lower living space and thus helps to maintain the lower living space in livable and comfortable condition.

The main roof supporting structure 20, FIGURES 1 and 2, may also have a lower floor forming means 134 which, if desired, may extend outwardly beyond the roof structure to form a porch 136. This porch may be provided with a bench structure 138, which may overhang, if desired.

The main roof supporting structure 20 may be supported in any suitable manner. For example, footings 140 may be made in the ground at a sufficient distance to be below the frost line of the location involved. They may be 2 X 2 ft. in horizontal dimension, and a foot in depth. These footings 140 may be reinforced with two horizontal steel bars in each direction. In addition, there may be four bars that have been previously bent, so that they may be allowed to bond horizontally into the concrete of the footing for a distance of 12 and have the bends directed upwardly and exposed 12" above the upper surface of the footings. These four exposed rods are centrally located, and are sufficiently close to receive and be placed in a 6" aluminum pipe. Within the pipe there is inserted a 3 ft. threaded anchor bolt which extends sufficiently above the upper end of the pipe for a purpose to be described. The aluminum columns on each of the footings are filled to the top with concrete, which is bonded to the reinforcing rods that extend up from the footings. Also, the concrete bonds the anchor bolt into the columns of concrete which are formed within the aluminum pipes. The tops of the concrete columns which are in the aluminum pipes are at the correct level, so that such cement columns then will support bottoms of the longitudinal beams or girders 142. If desired, there may be three of these girders 142, each of which is supported by three of the columns 144 along the girder length. The anchor bolts in the concrete columns may pass through the beams 142 and may be secured thereto by suitable nut and washer constructions suitably tightened on the anchor bolts.

A plurality of horizontal joists 146. may be supported on the beams or girders 142 in the usual manner and may have their ends secured to the side plates 22. Additionally, end plates 148 may be provided and may be secured to the ends of the girders 142 and to the side plates 22. Suitable flooring planks 134 may be nailed to the joists 146 in the usual manner. The uprights 130 may be supported immediately above joists 134, or additional joists, if necessary.

End wall means 149 may be provided to form end closure means adjacent the edges of the vertically corrugated sheets 38. To this end, suitable end framing 150 may be provided at both ends of the building. This framing construction may be such that it can receive suitable outer panels 152 and a suitable door or door means 154 for the main floor, and a suitable window or door 156 for the upper floor or attic.

The end which is adjacent to the porch 136 may be provided with a door for the main floor, and, if desired, a door for the attic space. If desired, windows for the lower space may also be added.

The construction may be placed on a sloping lot, or marshy ground, over a lake, on sand beach, particularly 'on a sand beach where the sand is moved by severe winds and the like, so that the winds are likely to produce moving sand dunes, etc.

It is desirable to have complete openness underneath the building, so that there is no building up of sand around the building. Also, in snowy areas, where it may be used as a ski lodge, the construction is such that there is no 8 build up of snow drifts around the building because of the open underneath portion, so that the wind can blow the snow through such underneath portion and will not have undue turbulence produced in the air, which would cause drifts about the building, and the like.

It is thus to be seen that a very desirable building construction has been provided, which is particularly suitable for use as a vacation cottage and the like.

While the form of the invention now preferred has been disclosed, as required by statute, other forms may be used, all coming within the scope of the claims which follow.

What is claimed is:

1. In combination: a main supporting structure with substantially parallel main side support means; a plurality of upwardly slantingly converging purlins with their lower ends secured to said main supporting structure adjacent said main side support means and with their upper ends connected to form a horizontal ridge-like structure; horizontal inner wall supporting strips secured to said purlins; vertically corrugated sheets over said purli-ns and inner wall supporting strips, said corrugated sheets having vertically slanting and outwardly directed ridges over the upper parts of said purlins, and having vertically slanting and outwardly directed valleys secured to said inner wall supporting strips; inner wall sheets secured to said inner wall supporting strips; and a ridge covering construction secured over said horiii-{Tutal ridge-like structure.

2. A combination according to claim 1 having a serially placed plurality of separate vertically corrugated sheets with overlapping vertically slanting edge ridges over certain of said purlins on both sides of said horizontal ridgelike structure, with the valleys of said separate vertically corrugated sheets adjacent said certain purlins secured to certain of said inner wall supporting strips.

3. A combination according to claim 1 having lower openings adjacent said main side support means under said ridges of said corrugations, and upper openings be tween said ridge covering construction and said valleys for convection air flow through said lower openings, upwardly between said sheets and said inner wall sheets and outwardly through said upper openings.

4. A combination according to claim 1 wherein said outwardly directed ridges have substantially flat tops and said outwardly directed valleys have substantially flat bottoms.

5. A combination according to claim 4 wherein said flat tops and said fiat bottoms are connected by substantially flat converging side members.

6. A combination according to claim 1 having end wall means forming end closure means adjacent the edges of said vertically corrugated sheets.

7. A combination according to claim 6, having door means in said end wall forming means.

8. A combination according to claim 1 having floor forming means supported by said main supporting structure.

9. A combination according to claim 1 having an upper purlin reinforcing structure having upper purlin engaging means substantially parallel to said main side support means.

10. A combination according to claim 9 having floor forming means supported by said upper purlin reinforcing structure.

11. A combination according to claim 10 having end wall means forming end closure means adjacent the edges of said vertically corrugated sheets.

12. A combination according to claim 11 having door means in said end wall forming means for the space above said floor forming means.

13. In combination: a main supporting structure; a roof structure upwardly extending and converging from said main supporting structure to form an apex structure and having an outer weather proof sheet construction and an inner insulating sheet construction spaced and supported by a frame construction providing convection air flow passages from lower outer opening means in the lower part of said outer weatherproof sheet construction to upper outer opening means in the upper part of said outer weatherproof sheet construction; means for closing and opening certain of said outer opening means; forced air passage forming means extending from upper inner opening means in said inner insulating sheet construction to lower inner opening means in said inner insulating sheet construction; and forced air circulating means for circulating forced air into said upper inner opening means, through said forced air passage forming means and out said lower inner opening forming means.

14. A combination according to claim 13 having means to disconnect said forced air means from said upper inner opening means and to connect said forced air means to force air from the upper space inside said insulating sheet construction to the air space outside said outer weatherproof sheet construction.

15. In combination: a main supporting structure; a main floor structure on said supporting structure; a roof structure upwardly extending and converging from said main supporting structure to form an apex structure and having outer weatherproof sheet construction and an inner insulating sheet construction spaced and supported by a frame construction providing an insulating space between said sheet constructions; an intermediate floor structure forming an upper enclosed space adjacent said apex structure and a lower enclosed space adjacent said main floor structure; and forced air circulating means for forcing air from said upper enclosed space to said lower enclosed space.

16. A combination according to claim 15 having means for selectively causing said forced air circulating means to discharge air from said upper enclosed space to the outer atmosphere.

17. A combination according to claim 16 having means selectively to change said insulating space into a convection air circulating space.

18. In combination: a main supporting structure with substantially parallel main side support means; a plurality of upwardly slanting converging purlins with their lower ends secured to said main supporting structure adjacent said main side support means and with their upper ends connected to form a horizontal ridge-like structure; horizontal inner wall supporting strips secured to said purlins; vertically corrugated sheets over said purlins and inner Wall supporting strips, said corrugated sheets having vertically slanting and outwardly directed ridges over the upper parts of said purlins, and having vertically slanting and outwardly directed valleys secured to said inner wall supporting strips; inner wall sheets secured to said inner wall supporting strips; a ridge covering construction secured over said horizontal ridge-like structure having lower openings adjacent said main side support means under said ridges of said corrugations and having upper openings between said ridge covering construction and said valleys for convecting air flow through said lower openings, upwardly between said sheets and said inner wall sheets and outwardly through said upper openings; and attachable cover means for certain of said openings.

19. In combination: a main supporting structure with substantially parallel main side support means; a plurality of upwardly slanting converging purlins with the lower ends secured to said main supporting structure adjacent said main side support means and with their upper ends connected to form a horizontal ridge-like structure; horizontal inner wall supporting strips secured to said purlins; vertically corrugated sheets over said purlins and inner wall supporting strips, said corrugated sheets having vertically slanting and outwardly directed ridges over the upper parts of said purlins, and having vertically slanting and outwardly directed valleys secured to said inner wall supporting strips; inner wall sheets secured to said inner wall supporting strips; a ridge cover: ing construction secured over said horizontal ridge-like structure; an upper purlin reinforcing structure having upper purlin engaging means substantially parallel to said main side support means; floor forming means supported by said upper purlin reinforcing structure; end wall means forming end closure means adjacent the edges of said vertically corrugated sheets; and circulating means for circulating air from the air space above said floor forming means through the space between said vertically corrugated sheets and said inner wall sheets to the air space below said floor forming means.

20. In combination: a main supporting structure with substantially parallel main side support means; a plurality of upwardly slanting converging purlins with their lower ends secured to said main supporting structure adjacent said main side support means and with their upper ends connected to form a horizontal ridge-like structure; horizontal inner wall supporting strips secured to said purlins; vertically corrugated sheets over said purlins and inner wall supporting strips, said corrugated sheets having vertically slanting and outwardly directed ridges over the upper parts of said purlins, and having vertically slanting and outwardly directed valleys secured to said inner wall supporting strips; inner wall sheets secured to said inner supporting strips; a ridge covering construction secured over said horizontal ridge-like structure; and forced air means for circulating air from the upper air space under and adjacent said horizontal ridge-like structure through the space between said vertically corrugated sheets and said inner wall sheets to the lower air space above and adjacent said main supporting structure.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,889,763 6/1959 Pine 98--31 2,936,723 5/ 1960 Waldron 52-90 3,193,973 7/1965 Lee 52 -9O X FOREIGN PATENTS 300,483 10/ 1954 Switzerland.

MEYER PERLIN, Primary Examiner. 

1. IN COMBINATION: A MAIN SUPPORTING STRUCTURE WITH SUBSTANTIALLY PARALLEL MAIN SIDE SUPPORT MEANS; A PLURALITY OF UPWARDLY SLANTINGLY CONVERGING PURLINS WITH THEIR LOWER ENDS SECURED TO SAID MAIN SUPPORTING STRUCTURE ADJACENT SAID MAIN SIDE SUPPORT MEANS AND WITH THEIR UPPER ENDS CONNECTED TO FORM A HORIZONTAL RIDGE-LIKE STRUCTURE; HORIZONTAL INNER WALL SUPPORTING STRIPS SECURED TO SAID PURLINS; VERTICALLY CORRUGATED SHEETS OVER SAID PURLINS AND INNER WALL SUPPORTING STRIPS, SAID CORRUGATED SHEETS HAVING VERTICALLY SLANTING AND OUTWARDLY DIRECTED RIDGES OVER THE UPPER PARTS OF SAID PURLINS, AND HAVING VERTICALLY SLANTING AND OUTWARDLY DIRECTED VALLEYS SECURED TO SAID INNER WALL SUPPORTING STRIPS; INNER WALL SHEETS SECURED TO SAID INNER WALL SUPPORTING STRIPS; AND A RIDGE COVERING CONSTRUCTION SECURED OVER SAID HORIZONTAL RIDGE-LIKE STRUCTURE. 